Package-sealing device.



PATENTED' SEPT. 18, 1906. J. H. TUTTLE & c. B. FROST.

PACKAGE SEALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB-1'7, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l/V/T/VESSES I CLARE/V055 56275 T B) THE/R A 7'TOH/VEV UNITED SrArn L OFFICE.

JOSEPH 11,. rU'rrLn'OF BOSTON, AND CLARENCE n. FROST. OF CAMBRIDGE. MASSACHUSETTS. ASSIGNORS TO FROST SPECIALTY COMPANY. OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

PACKAGE-SEALING Device.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

Application filed March 17, 1906. Serial No. 306.695

.l'0 all whom it may conccrm- Be it known that we, JOSEPH H. TUTTLE, a resident of Boston, in'the count of Suffolk, and CLA ENOE'B. FROST, a resi ent of (ambridge, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, citizens of the United St ates, have invented certain new and useful Imvprovements in Package-Sealing Devices, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to package-sealing devices- Moreparticularly, it relates to devices for binding and fastening packages or parcels with strips of gummed paper or other ad- 5 hesive fabric. It differs from other machines pfeviously known to us in that it enables the user to avoid graspin the adhesive side of the strips when using t e machine.

' Another feature of novelt is the provision 40 for a device for printing a vertising matter or other matter on the strips, which being made adjustable can be thrown out of use or changedfwhen desired.

Among other features of novelty are the inclosin frame'and methodof mounting the parts ereinafter described, the provision for automatically forcing the tape into contact with the device for rendering the tape adhesive,'the shape and arrangement of means 3 for severing the tape, and other features here'- inafte'r described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation with the case thrown open and part of the device shown in section. Fig. 2 is a plan shown in section on the line 2 '2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

-Fi s. 4 and 5are details in perspective.

' thepreferred embodiment of the various features of the invention the casing,

4 which also serves as a frame for mounting the moving parts, co'nsistsof twosymmetrical castings -1 and 2, provided with feet 3, which may be so arranged that the machine can be fastened to the shelf or counter on which it will rest when inuse. The halves 1 and 2 are hinged at 4 and are provided with a springcatch- 5 to lock them together. In casing 1 are mounted all of the operative portions of l the machine, thusmaking it possibleto ex- 5 amine readily the interior withoutdisplacing any of said portions. It is also possible to widen the casing sufficiently to mount a duplicate machinein half 2, thus two -tening device, the tape being package immediately after passing comes in contact on its complete machines in one frame. This feature of inclosing the entire n aehine ina easing which acts as a frame and the mounting of the parts in one half of the fran.e only are ncw with us, so far as we know.

It will he noticed that the naehine is selfsuppori ing when the casing is swungopen, as

in Fig. 1, and does not have to he laid upon.

I itsside for examination.

6 is a reel of binding-t ape of gunned paper or fabric, mounted on spool 7.

8 is a fricl ion device, which is held against the reel by spring 9 in such a way as to give greater pressure against a large roll than .a small one. This is advisable, as there is more momentum to overcome when the roll is lar e, and it would be objectionable to allow the reel freedom to continue its unwinding motion after sufficient tape has been drawn off for present use. Any form oftension device rray be used, however, and in some cases the use of aspecial nceans for producing tension is unnecessary.

The tape preferably consists of a strip of paper which has previously been gummed and wound into a roll, as stated ;but the tape may be arranged in some other form, ifpree ferred. We consider it best to use such tape and to render it adhesive by mears of amoise applied to the the moistening device.

From reel 6 the tape passes under an idlerspool 10 over an abutment-roll 11, where it plain. surface with printir g roll 12 when. said roll 12 is in use. Thence the tape passes around a blotting-roll 13 for drying the ink impression. and then to idler-spool 14 and above a pin 15 in. the Weighted arm 16 and out at the front of the machine. 17 under a mcistening-reservoir 18, which rests upon supports 19 in casing 1. Said Arm 16 is pivotally mounted at' arm is'provided at its rear end with a'weighted part 20 and at its front end with a crossbar 21, whichhas a serrated upper edge to support the moistened side. of the tape. (See Fig. 4.) Lug 22 impinges against the under side of reservoir 18 when the machine is not IOO casing 1' and is positioned when in use so that it is impossibleto draw off the tape without its coming in contact with moistening-roll 24. If it is desired to deliver unmoistened tape, this roll is raised in slot 26 in frame 1. This is an important feature in our inven- I tion, as this machine is the first to eliminate the necessity of watching to see that the tape sgets properly moistened.

27 is a cutting-knife adjustably mounted on casing 1 at 28 and is provided with a V.-

shaped cutting edge, so that no tearing mo- 4 .tion is necessary in cutting off the tape. Theshape of this knife is shown in Fig. 5. When used, the tape is raised until the point of the V encounters and pierces the center of the hand of the user causes the tape to be severed by extension of the central hole sidewise in each direction. It be observed that this knife, although adjustable in position, is rigidly mounted. The tape being composed of' fragile material and held taut by the mechanism within the casing when it is brought against the rigid point of the V it is readily pierced thereby .and severed. This dispenses 'with serrated edges and also with shearing- I ing-pad 30, which is revolved by contact with.

blades and the necessity of keeping the shearing edges close-fitting and sharp.

29 is an inking-roll provided with aninkthe printing surface 31 of roll 12. Rolls 12 and 29 are adjustably mounted in slot 32 and when in use are preferably loose in said slot, so that their weight may press the printing-surface 31 more firml against the tape. When it is desired-to de ver unprinted tape, these .rolls 12 and 29 are raised, so that printingsurface 31 no longer contacts with the tape. This adjustable feature is more especially designed to permit 'diflerentsizes of printingrolls to be used, thus varying the inscription on the tape.

If desired, the inscription may be changed at stated. intervals, as each day or each hour, and may thus indicate by printingupon the tape the day and hour at which the package is sealed or the name of the clerk sealing the same.

The operation is as follows: When the machine is at rest, the free end of the tape A projects sufiiciently to permit the package B to be brought into the desired relation with it. As the tape lies across the top of ser rated bar 21 and pin 15, the weight 20 keeps it clear from moistenin -roll 24 and prevents smudging or soiling of the printed surface. It is not necessa tape which has a eady passed moisteningward motion of the hand contalnin ,the ta to waste the end of the the package a sufficient amount oftape is unreeled for that fastening and is Wound about the package, binding it. Withoutchanging the grasp ofthe package an upsald package, with the tape adhering to it, rings e against knife 27, and it is thereby severe The cut end can then be secured to the edge of the package without any risk .of

gumming the fingers. The unreeling of the tape just described brings it into contact with m0is.tening-roll 24, as was previously stated. By an lnspection of Fi 1 it will be noticed that when the free end of the ta e is pulled the weight 20 is overcomeandt e tape tends to lie .'in a line tan ential to the upper surface of spool 14 and t e under surface of spool 25. This is prevented only by roll 24, and consequently, no matter what direction of pull is given to the free end A of the tape, moistening is insured as long as spool 25 is in use. This unreeling of the tape also causes rotation (by friction) of the printing-roll 12, and a fresh 1m ression of the type is taken by the tape. T g e friction device 8 brings the reel 6 to rest as soon as the.

pull has ceased, as before described.

The moistening-reservoir 18isin the sha e I of a narrow-necked vessel, open. only at t e end of'the neck 33. This opening is oblique to the axis of neck 33 and serves to govern the height of liquid in pan 23 by admitting a .small portion only of air to the reservoir 18 whenever the level of the liquid in an 23 falls below the uppermost edge of sa'i opening in neck 33. This admission of'air to reservoir 18 allows a smallquantity of-water to descend and re-form the seal at the mouth of the neck by raising thesu'rface of water in the pan. This action is automatic and will be readily understood, without further description. v he method. of renderin the tape adhesive, hereinbefore describe consists in providing tape having one surface previously gummed and in moistening that-surface as the tape is needed for use but ungummed tape may be used, if preferred, in which case a 'quid adhesive, such as mucilage, may be substituted-for water in the moistening device. The particular form of this device may be varied and machines may be constructed, varying in other respects from the specific form here described, without depart- .ing from the scope ofthe patent.

B adjustin the relative positions of the gui e-roll 14, t e. moistening-roll 24, and the outside guide-M1125 it is possible to adjust the device for rendering the tape adhesiye line between it and roll 14, the length of contact of the tape with said moistening-roll is diminished, and. by raising the roll high enough the necessary contact diminishes to zero and the tape may. be drawn off. unmoistened, as before described. By lowering the. roll 25 a longer distance of contact of the tape with the moistening-roll is compelled. These adjustments are useful according to the degree of dampness of the moistcmng-roll, the quality of gum on the paper, or the character of mucilage or other adhesive material which is a plied to the tape.

The rol 25 may be dis ensed with, if desired, in which case it wi 1 be observed that the one motion of the users hand in lifting the package for severing the tape also lifts the tape from'the moistening device. I

The cross-bar 21, which isarranged outside the moistening device between it and the severing device, is an important feature, as it supports the end of the tape in a position easily accessible for use in sealing the next package. This has never been accomplished before, as far as we are aware, the effect of prior devices intended to remove the tape.

from contact with the moistening device being found in practice to withdraw the end of the tape to a place inconvenient to reach within the machine. In connection with this bar it is to be observed that when the tape is being drawn out the bar swings so far downward, the arm 16 turning upon pivot 17,

that it is entirely out of contact with the tape, and the tape is therefore never drawn over this bar, but simply rests upon it when with means to hold a roll of tape; guides for the tape; and a device for rendering the tape adhesive; all mounted within the frame in one of the sections thereof.

3. The combination of a tape-holder with a device for rendering the tape adhesive, and guides for the tape on each side of said device, said device intervening between the guides, whereby a pull upon the tape draws it against said device.

4. The combination of a tape-holder with a device for renderingthe tape adhesive, andv guides for the tape on each side of said device; the relative positions of said guides and device when in operation bein adjustable, thereby adjusting the action 0 said device upon the tape.

5. The combination of a tape-holder with a device for rendering the tape adhesive, and a V-shaped blade mounted rigidly outside said device with its point adjacent thereto for severing the tape.

6. The combination of atape-holder anda device for rendering the tape adhesive, said device comprising a pan, a body of absorbent a material rising therefrom, and means to guide the tape over said absorbent materlal; with a closed reservoir for liquid, removable from the pan and having an enlarged bod portion at a high level, and a narrow nec eading downward therefrom, terminating at an opening within said pan.

7. The combination of a tape-holder with a device for rendering the tape adhesive, and a movable bar arranged on the outer s de of said device for supporting the end portion of the tape.

8. The combination of a tape-holder with a device for rendering the tape adhesive, and a movable frame over which the tape passes, having a bar on the outer side of said device arranged normally to retract the .ta e automatically therefrom, and to yiel under slight pressure and permit contact of the tape therewith.

9. The combination of a tape-holder with a device for rendering the tape adhesive, and

a movable frame arranged adjgcent to said device, having a bar over w ch the tape asses on each side thereof, said frame and bars being arranged to maintain the tape out of contact with said device but to yield under slight pressure and permit such contact.

10. The combination of a tape-holder and a device for rendering one side of the tape adhesive, with guide-rolls intervening, guiding the ta e from the holder to said device, one of said guide-rolls supporting the other side of the ta e against a printing-roll, and another of t e uide-rolls bearing an absorbent for blotting t e same.

lL-The combination of a tape-holder and a device for rendering one side of the tape adiesive, with a guide-roll intervening between them, and means to maintain a printing-roll cooperating with said guide-roll to print the other side of the tape.

12.'The combination of a tape-holder and a device for renderin one side of the tape adhesive, with a gui e-roll-for the tape intervening between them, a printing-roll pressing against the other side of the tape upon the guide-roll; and means to sustain. the axis of the printing-roll at an adjustable distance from the guide-roll.

13. The combination of a tape-holder with 13 ing when the tape is pulled,- an' there being bar normally supporting the tape on the a device for rendering one-side of the tape .ad-

a device for rendering the tape adhesive, and

prevent contact of the tape therewith and hesive and movable supports arranged to bear against the tape on each side'of said deconta'ct therewith, one of the su ports recedmeans .to compel contact of the tape-with said device when pulled.

14. The combination of'a tape-holder'with a yieldable arm having albar arranged on the outer side of said device adapted normally to automaticallyreturning to said position after displacement.

a device .for rendering the tape adhesive, a

move said bar antomaticall with the tape whent'h'e tape 15 drawn out. vice and maintain the tape normally out of a he. combination ofatape-holder with outer side of said device; and means to re- .from contact 20 B6. The combination of a tape-holderwi-th a device for rendering the tape adhesive;

tape-supporting bars on the inner and outer sides ofsaid device; and an arm connecting 25 said bars, movable about a support; where- ,by the pull of the tape upon the inner bar,

when the tape is drawn out, moves the outer bar out of contact with the tape.

In testimony whereof we have afiixed our 3 signatures in presence of-two witnesses.

JOSEPH H. TUTTLE. CLARENCE 'B; FROST. Witnesses:

EVERETT E. KEN'r, ELLIOTT B. Cannon. 

